On September 10, Jiahui International Hospital hosted an academic symposium on brachytherapy under the theme “Precision Guided, Hope Illuminated”, bringing together leading experts in radiation oncology for an in-depth exchange on the clinical application and future development of precision brachytherapy.

Two prominent specialists in the field of brachytherapy in Shanghai — Prof. BAI Yongrui from Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and Prof. KE Guihao from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University — were invited to share their clinical expertise and latest practices in brachytherapy.

 
Prof. Allen WU, President of Jiahui International Hospital, Ms. GUAN Hongyan, Corporate Leader of Jiahui Health, and Dr. JIANG Yan, Senior Director of Clinical Administration at Jiahui International Hospital, also attended the symposium. Together with the invited experts, and Dr. ZHANG Lihua, Section Head of Radiation Oncology, they officially unveiled the “Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital Brachytherapy Center”, marking another important milestone in Jiahui’s continued development of precision radiation oncology.

From left: JIANG Yan, Senior Director of Clinical Administration, Jiahui International Hospital; Guan Hongyan, Corporate Leader, Jiahui Health; Prof. Bai Yongrui, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; Dr. Zhang Lihua, Section Head of Radiation Oncology, Jiahui International Hospital; Prof. Allen WU, President of Jiahui International Hospital; Prof. Ke Guihao, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University.


Precision Treatment Through Interstitial Brachytherapy

Interstitial brachytherapy enables radioactive sources to be placed directly within the tumor and its infiltrative margins. Guided by three-dimensional MRI or CT reconstruction, treatment needles can be individually positioned according to the shape of the target area. This approach allows a high radiation dose to be concentrated within the tumor while falling off rapidly outside the target, helping achieve an effective therapeutic dose while significantly reducing radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissues and organs, including the bladder, rectum and small intestine.

This physical advantage makes interstitial brachytherapy particularly valuable for tumors with irregular shapes. Needles can be positioned from multiple angles and at different depths to conform closely to the actual tumor contour, enabling effective dose coverage for eccentric, lobulated, flat or bulky lesions. For such complex tumor geometries, conventional intracavitary brachytherapy may not always provide optimal coverage due to its relatively fixed dose distribution, while external beam radiation therapy can face challenges in achieving curative doses without increasing exposure to nearby healthy tissue.

In the multidisciplinary treatment of gynecologic cancers, interstitial brachytherapy can also be closely integrated with external beam radiation therapy and concurrent chemotherapy. By delivering curative doses to high-risk clinical target volumes, it can help address dose limitations associated with external beam radiation therapy and reduce the risk of local residual disease and recurrence. For patients with positive or close vaginal margins after surgery, as well as those with vaginal stump recurrence, image-guided brachytherapy can precisely target high-risk areas, with published evidence demonstrating favorable local control compared with external beam radiation therapy alone.

Strengthening Jiahui’s Multidisciplinary Oncology Capabilities

Opening the symposium, Prof. Allen WU, President of Jiahui International Hospital, highlighted Jiahui Health’s strategic vision and continued investment in oncology.

“As a key strategic priority for Jiahui Health, the Jiahui International Cancer Center (JICC) is committed to integrating multidisciplinary expertise across the hospital while bringing together high-quality medical resources from Shanghai, across China and around the world. Our goal is to provide high-quality, personalized cancer care for both domestic and international patients.”


The symposium also provided a platform for leading clinicians to share advanced clinical practices and technical innovations.

Prof. Bai Yongrui of Renji Hospital presented his team’s recent experience in applying brachytherapy to the treatment of cervical cancer, including innovative approaches incorporating 3D printing technology into treatment planning and delivery.

Prof. KE Guihao of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University discussed the application of freehand interstitial brachytherapy techniques in gynecologic oncology. Using cervical cancer as an example, he outlined the clinical advantages and future potential of brachytherapy and shared practical experience in freehand needle implantation.

Beyond their academic presentations, both experts spoke highly of Jiahui International Hospital’s forward-looking introduction of brachytherapy into its oncology treatment portfolio and recognized the hospital’s continued commitment to patient-centered care.

Multidisciplinary Dialogue on the Future of Brachytherapy

The symposium concluded with an in-depth multidisciplinary roundtable discussion. Physicians from Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Gynecology and Urology at Jiahui International Hospital joined the invited experts to explore the application of brachytherapy across gynecologic, breast and prostate malignancies.

Discussions covered a broad range of clinical and academic topics, including patient selection, treatment guidelines, the role of brachytherapy in recurrent disease, the integration of brachytherapy with immunotherapy and targeted therapy, post-radiotherapy quality of life, strategies for protecting surrounding healthy tissues, multidisciplinary workflow coordination, and the potential application of brachytherapy in additional tumor types.


Multidisciplinary experts exchange insights during the roundtable discussion.


The launch of brachytherapy services represents an important step forward for Jiahui International Hospital in precision radiation oncology.

Building on close collaboration among multidisciplinary specialists both within and beyond the hospital, Jiahui International Cancer Center will continue to strengthen its expertise in precision cancer treatment and provide patients with internationally aligned, personalized and comprehensive oncology care.



About JICC
Jiahui International Cancer Center (JICC), based at Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital, is led by a multidisciplinary team of oncology specialists. The Center is committed to providing patients from around the world with the best cancer care, leveraging its extensive medical network both domestically and globally.

Since its establishment, JICC has maintained a strategic collaboration with the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, a teaching hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Built around Jiahui’s Team Medicine model, JICC brings together leading specialists from China and abroad, combining advanced medical technologies and innovative therapies to develop individualized treatment plans for patients across a broad range of cancer types. The Center’s international approach is also reflected in its close collaboration with leading academic and medical institutions and its multidisciplinary decision-making model.
JICC provides comprehensive oncology services spanning cancer risk assessment, screening and early detection, precision molecular diagnostics, cancer surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, interventional therapy and supportive care. The Center has particular expertise in autologous stem cell transplantation and CAR-T cell therapy and has provided internationally oriented cancer care to patients from numerous countries and regions worldwide. Its CAR-T program covers both hematological malignancies and selected solid tumors, supported by Jiahui’s Team Medicine approach and comprehensive clinical capabilities.

As Shanghai’s first officially designated international hospital and one of the first high-standard international hospitals in Shanghai included in the public medical insurance pilot program, Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital provides a strong clinical foundation for JICC. It is one of the few comprehensive international hospitals in Shanghai with its own Department of Pathology, independent blood bank and Intensive Care Unit (ICU). More than 35 medical specialties and subspecialties across the hospital provide JICC patients with seamless access to multidisciplinary expertise and one-stop clinical support.
Jiahui also offers a diversified payment system designed to meet the needs of different patient groups, including public medical insurance, direct billing with commercial insurers, reimbursement-based commercial insurance, critical illness insurance, and Shanghai’s “Huhuibao” supplementary health insurance, providing patients with greater flexibility in managing the financial aspects of care.

About Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital

Located at 689 Guiping Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital is the first hospital in Shanghai to be officially designated as an international hospital and was among the first high-standard privately operated medical institutions in the city to participate in the public medical insurance pilot program.

The hospital began operations in October 2017 and has an approved capacity of 500 beds. Today, it offers more than 35 medical specialties and subspecialties, including several Centers of Excellence such as the Jiahui International Cancer Center, Women and Children’s Medical Center, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center, and Heart Center, together with key services including General Practice, Surgery and a 24/7 Emergency Department.

The majority of Jiahui’s physicians come from leading Grade A tertiary hospitals in China and renowned medical institutions overseas. Working across specialties, the team is committed to delivering healthcare that is efficient, safe, integrated and patient-centered.

As a pioneer in Shanghai’s international healthcare landscape, Jiahui International Hospital has been designated for multiple consecutive years as an official medical services provider for the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and has received a number of recognitions for service excellence and medical support.

Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital, together with Jiahui Health (Shanghai Jing’an) and Jiahui Health (Shanghai Yangpu), has also achieved Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation with near-perfect scores, receiving the official JCI Gold Seal of Approval in recognition of its commitment to international standards of healthcare quality and patient safety.